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Middle Ages Unit

Roles:

Squire, Craftsperson, Nobleman, Serf, Bishop, Merchant, Noble’s servant, Noblewoman, Knight, Minstrel
Guiding Questions

• How was society organised in the Middle Ages?
• How did different people live in the Middle Ages?
• What role did religion/churches/cathedrals and nobles/castles play in the Middle Ages?

Main Tasks:

• Use printed and online materials to researchyour medieval role. You should use at least three of the following:
  • Books
  • Encyclopaedia
  • Websites
  • United Streaming Videos
  
  
• Take notes using a graphic organiser.

• Use your research to create a diary written from the point of view of your medieval character. This should show your knowledge of how people lived in the medieval villages and the importance of religion (the church) and the nobility/castles. NB the diary will also be graded according to the 6 + 1 traits, as usual.

• Make a comparison between an aspect of life now and in the Middle Ages. For example, you could make drawings showing life now and then, or create a Venn diagram, or act out a life nowadays and 800 years ago.

• Show the feudal system in diagram form, including some information about the main occupations of the major roles of different people.

• Make a ‘parchment’ for the cover of your diary.

Additional Tasks:

You will be involved in other tasks depending on your medieval role and the time you have after completing other tasks. For example, discovering about the art and music enjoyed; creating a coat of arms; painting murals; making tools you would have used; designing a stained glass window; playing medieval games; acting out your roles as medieval characters; creating a guild sign.
Student-designed activities will be encouraged, too, so get thinking!

Rubric for Middle Ages unit

The student showed understanding of:	1	2	3	4
How society was organised in the Middle Ages	Student placed fewer than 4 class roles accurately into a hierarchy, with little or no information about each role.	Student placed at least 4 class roles accurately into a hierarchy, with a little information about each role.	Student placed the different class roles accurately into a hierarchy, with some information about each role.	Student placed the different class roles accurately into a hierarchy, including detailed information about each role.
How people lived in Medieval villages in Europe	Diary included very little, or inaccurate, information about aspects of a life in the Middle Ages.	Diary included limited, or partly inaccurate, information about aspects of a life in the Middle Ages.	Diary included accurate information about 4 - 5 aspects of a life in the Middle Ages.	Diary included accurate, detailed information about at least 5 aspects of a life in the Middle Ages.
How life today compares to life in the Middle Ages	Student’s chosen medium showed little understanding of the contrast between life in the Middle Ages and today.	Student’s chosen medium showed some understanding of the contrast between life in the Middle Ages and today.	Student’s chosen medium showed clear understanding of the contrast between life in the Middle Ages and today.	Student’s chosen medium showed clear understanding of the contrast between several aspects of life in the Middle Ages and today.
How to take notes using organisers	Was able to select some key words with assistance and organise notes with significant assistance.	Was able to select some key words and organise notes with some assistance .	Was able to select key words and organise notes, citing most sources.	Was able to select key words and independently organise notes and cite all sources.
How to use research materials	Needed significant teacher assistance to use provided materials to find information.	Needed some assistance to use provided materials to find information.	Used provided materials effectively to find information.	Independently searched beyond provided materials effectively to find information.
The importance of religion/churches	Diary made no mention of religion/churches/cathedrals.	Diary made no meaningful reference to religion/churches/cathedrals.	Diary made reference to the importance of religion/churches/cathedrals.	Diary made subtle reference to the importance of religion/churches/cathedrals
The importance of nobles/castes	Diary made no mention of nobles/castles.	Diary made no meaningful reference to nobles/castles.	Diary made reference to the importance of nobles/castles.	Diary made subtle reference to the importance of nobles/castles.